Isolated and misinformed, Syrian refugees struggle

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrian children passing time while waiting with their families at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrian children passing time while waiting with their families at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrians waiting for their appointments at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. In Lebanon, where Syrian refugees now equal one-third of the population, the problem for many Syrians is made worse by the government’s refusal to establish official refugee camps, further complicating aid efforts and leading to a chaotic, fractured operation with major gaps in coordination.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrians waiting for their appointments at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. In Lebanon, where Syrian refugees now equal one-third of the population, the problem for many Syrians is made worse by the government’s refusal to establish official refugee camps, further complicating aid efforts and leading to a chaotic, fractured operation with major gaps in coordination.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows UNICEF nurse Nadine Houjairi removing the winter coat from a Syrian baby before giving the measles vaccine at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The baby and her siblings were also vaccinated against polio as part of a U.N. campaign to prevent disease among the Syrian refugee population. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows UNICEF nurse Nadine Houjairi removing the winter coat from a Syrian baby before giving the measles vaccine at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The baby and her siblings were also vaccinated against polio as part of a U.N. campaign to prevent disease among the Syrian refugee population. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrian women checking in at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrian women checking in at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrian women waiting with their children at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Fear, confusion and a poor flow of information is preventing many Syrian refugees flooding into Lebanon from knowing where to turn to for assistance. Fear, confusion and a poor flow of information is preventing many Syrian refugees flooding into Lebanon from knowing where to turn to for assistance.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrian women waiting with their children at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. Fear, confusion and a poor flow of information is preventing many Syrian refugees flooding into Lebanon from knowing where to turn to for assistance. Fear, confusion and a poor flow of information is preventing many Syrian refugees flooding into Lebanon from knowing where to turn to for assistance.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows a Syrian boy receiving the polio vaccine from UNICEF nurses Nadine Houjairi, second right, and Genivieve Bashalani, right, at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The boy's parents waiait with their other children for measles and polio vaccines as well as a dose of vitamin a. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows a Syrian boy receiving the polio vaccine from UNICEF nurses Nadine Houjairi, second right, and Genivieve Bashalani, right, at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The boy's parents waiait with their other children for measles and polio vaccines as well as a dose of vitamin a. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows a Syrian boy watching as UNICEF nurse Genivieve Bashalani prepares him for a measles vaccination at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows a Syrian boy watching as UNICEF nurse Genivieve Bashalani prepares him for a measles vaccination at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows a Syrian boy watching as his baby sister, cradled by their mother, is given the polio vaccine by UNICEF nurse Genivieve Bashalani, right, at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows a Syrian boy watching as his baby sister, cradled by their mother, is given the polio vaccine by UNICEF nurse Genivieve Bashalani, right, at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows a Syrian girl weeping after receiving the measles vaccine from UNICEF nurses Nadine Houjairi, second right, and Genivieve Bashalani, right, at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The girl's mother, left, holds the family's refugee documents while waiting with her other children for measles and polio vaccines as well as a dose of vitamin a. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows a Syrian girl weeping after receiving the measles vaccine from UNICEF nurses Nadine Houjairi, second right, and Genivieve Bashalani, right, at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. The girl's mother, left, holds the family's refugee documents while waiting with her other children for measles and polio vaccines as well as a dose of vitamin a. With an endless surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find new ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive, including the recruitment of refugees as volunteers so that people can access information from sources they can trust. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrian women checking in at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. For many Syrians fleeing the bloody fighting, the anguish over their wrecked lives only deepens once they arrive in neighboring Lebanon, starting their lives as refugees. Fear, confusion and poor information flows means many Syrians who are in most need of help don't know where to turn to for assistance. With the endless surge of refugees, coupled with what is forecast to be a bitter winter, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)The Associated Press

This Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013 photo shows Syrian women checking in at the U.N. refugee agency's registration center in Zahleh, in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley. For many Syrians fleeing the bloody fighting, the anguish over their wrecked lives only deepens once they arrive in neighboring Lebanon, starting their lives as refugees. Fear, confusion and poor information flows means many Syrians who are in most need of help don't know where to turn to for assistance. With the endless surge of refugees, coupled with what is forecast to be a bitter winter, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find ways to reach refugees with the timely, accurate information they need to survive. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)

ZAHLEH, Lebanon (AP) — Fear, confusion and a lack of information are preventing many Syrian refugees in Lebanon from knowing where to turn for aid.

With a constant surge of refugees now fighting the bitter winter cold, humanitarian organizations are struggling to find ways to reach them with the information they need to survive — and are recruiting some refugees to help out.

In Lebanon, where displaced Syrians now equal one-third of the population, the problem is made worse by the government's refusal to establish official refugee camps, leading to a chaotic, fractured operation with major gaps in coordination.

Many distrust a Lebanese government they deem sympathetic to President Bashar Assad and are suspicious of international aid organizations, making them hesitant to register with the U.N. refugee agency to become eligible for assistance.

"Everyone, who comes here is confused and afraid," said Elyse Maalouf, a UNHCR worker in Zahleh, one of two registration centers in Lebanon's Bekaa Valley, where hundreds of informal refugee settlements have sprung up. "Many refugees are reluctant to register because they fear their names would be shared with the Syrian government."

Of all of Syria's neighbors, Lebanon has been the hardest hit by the exodus of Syrians fleeing their country's violence. Close to 1.5 million Syrians are now in Lebanon, scattered across the volatile country often in makeshift substandard accommodation. Unlike in neighboring Turkey and Jordan, there are no official refugee camps.

From immunization and other health services, to education and even basic aid to survive outside their war-stricken homeland, most Syrians in Lebanon feel lost in a world of rumors and misinformation.

"Managing and disseminating information becomes much more of a challenge than it would have been if they were in a camp setting," said Ninette Kelley, UNHCR representative in Lebanon.

A donors' conference for Syria is set to open in Kuwait on Wednesday. The U.N. last month appealed for a staggering $6.5 billion to cover this year's funding needs — its largest-ever request for a single crisis.

Experts say more money needs to be allocated for information programs, crucial to any successful aid response.

"Information saves lives, and a significant part of what we have to do is advocate to funders and donors that this actually is a tremendous need," said Kirpatrick Day of the International Rescue Committee.

In an effort to deal with the massive aid effort, U.N. agencies and NGOs have concentrated their operations under the "Inter-agency Information Sharing Portal," where the work of various groups can be followed.

But with each having its own organizational mandate and the geographic scatter of the refugees, the effort has remained largely uncoordinated.

Unregistered refugees, particularly in far-flung corners of the country, are often left out in the cold — literally — with no access to aid except from sympathetic locals. Surveys have found few listen to the radio and even fewer watch TV. Internet and social media does not come into play when it comes to needy Syrians.